BRICS nations to gather without Xi, Putin

BRICS leaders will meet in Rio de Janeiro from Sunday, with the bloc depleted by the absence of China’s Xi Jinping, who is skipping the annual summit of emerging economies for the first time in 12 years.The grouping — often seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to Western power — meets as members face imminent and costly tariff wars with the United States.Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be dominated by Beijing, which grew much faster and larger than the rest.China has not said why Xi will miss the summit, a first since he became president in 2012.”I expect there will be speculation about the reasons for Xi’s absence,” said Ryan Hass, a former China director at the US National Security Council who is now with the Brookings Institution think tank.”The simplest explanation may hold the most explanatory power. Xi recently hosted Lula in Beijing,” said Hass.The Chinese leader will not be the only notable absentee. War crime-indicted Russian President Vladimir Putin is also opting to stay away, but will participate via video link, according to the Kremlin.So too will Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still reeling from a 12-day conflict with Israel. Hass said that Putin’s non-attendance and the fact that India’s prime minister will be a guest of honor in Brazil could also be factors in Xi’s absence.”Xi does not want to appear upstaged by Modi,” who will receive a state lunch, he said. “I expect Xi’s decision to delegate attendance to Premier Li (Qiang) rests amidst these factors.”Still, the Xi no-show is a blow to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who wants Brazil to play a bigger role on the world stage.In the year to November 2025, Brazil will have hosted a G20 summit, a BRICS summit, and COP30 international climate talks, all before heading into fiercely contested presidential elections next year.Lula is expected to run again for an unprecedented fourth term in office.- ‘Cautious tone’ -For BRICS leaders who do make the trip to the “cidade maravilhosa” — the marvelous city — the economy will be top of the agenda.Lula on Friday defended the idea of finding an alternative to the dollar for trade among BRICS nations.”I know it is complicated. There are political problems,” Lula said at a BRICS banking event. “But if we do not find a new formula, we are going to finish the 21st century the way we started the 20th.”But with many, including China, locked in difficult trade negotiations with the United States, they may be wary of roiling the mercurial US president.President Donald Trump has warned that starting Friday, countries will receive letters stating the amount their exports to the United States will be tariffed.He has also threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on countries that challenge the dollar’s international dominance.”We’re anticipating a summit with a cautious tone: it will be difficult to mention the United States by name in the final declaration,” Marta Fernandez, director of the BRICS Policy Center at Rio’s Pontifical Catholic University, told AFP.This is particularly the case for China, she said: “This doesn’t seem to be the right time to provoke further friction” between the world’s two leading economies.On a range of other issues, from the Middle East to climate, BRICS members will have to overcome deep-seated differences.- Consensus-building difficult -Original members of the bloc Brazil, Russia, India, and China have been joined by South Africa and, more recently, by Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.Analysts say that it has given the grouping more potential international punch. The BRICS now represent nearly half of the world’s population and 40 percent of its GDP. But it has also opened many new fault lines, not least over how strongly to challenge the United States.This expansion “makes it all the more difficult to build a strong consensus,” said Fernandez.BRICS members did not issue a strong statement on the Iran-Israel conflict and subsequent US military strikes due to their “diverging” interests, according to Oliver Stuenkel, a professor of international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation.Brazil, nevertheless, hopes that countries can take a common stand at the summit, including on the most sensitive issues.”BRICS (countries), throughout their history, have managed to speak with one voice on major international issues, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case this time on the subject of the Middle East,” Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told AFP.Artificial intelligence and global governance reform will also be on the menu.

Italie: la Juventus Turin s’offre Jonathan David

La Juventus Turin a officialisé vendredi l’arrivée de l’attaquant international canadien Jonathan David, en provenance de Lille en Ligue 1 où il a passé les cinq dernières saisons.”Jonathan David est officiellement un joueur de la Juventus ! L’attaquant canadien de 25 ans a signé un contrat de cinq ans avec le club, soit jusqu’au 30 juin 2030″, a indiqué dans un communiqué le club le plus titré du football italien.David a marqué 109 buts sous le maillot de Lille en 232 matches toutes compétitions confondues. Passé par La Gantoise (2018-20), il a marqué les esprits cette saison sur la scène européenne en contribuant aux victoires de Lille en Ligue des champions contre le Real Madrid (1-0) et l’Atlético (3-1).Il s’est forgé en France la réputation d’un attaquant fiable, terminant cette saison à la quatrième place du classement des buteurs de Ligue 1, à la deuxième place la saison d’avant et à la troisième en 2022-2023.David est la première recrue de la Juve depuis que le Français Damien Comolli a pris le mois dernier ses fonctions de directeur général.Le Canadien, sacré champion de France avec Lille en 2021, rejoint un club qui n’a remporté qu’un trophée (Coupe d’Italie 2024) depuis 2021 et qui sort d’une saison décevante, terminée à la 4e place en Serie A et marquée par le licenciement de son entraîneur Thiago Motta huit mois seulement après son arrivée. La Juve, éliminée en 8e de finale du Mondial des clubs par le Real Madrid (1-0), n’entend pas en rester là pour muscler son secteur offensif.Les Bianconeri convoitent le Nigérian Victor Osimhen, que David avait d’ailleurs remplacé à Lille.Osimhen est sous contrat avec Naples qui l’a prêté la saison dernière au club turc du Galatasaray pour qui il a inscrit 26 buts en 30 matches de championnat. Mais le Napoli qui a remporté le titre de champion d’Italie, sans lui, réclame 70 millions d’euros pour le laisser partir.Les dirigeants piémontais veulent par ailleurs obtenir du Paris SG un nouveau prêt d’une saison, assorti cette fois d’une obligation d’achat de Randal Kolo Muani. L’international français, arrivé à Turin en janvier, a marqué huit buts en seize matches de Serie A.Selon la presse italienne, la Juve, entraînée depuis mars par le Croate Igor Tudor, s’intéresse également à l’international anglais de Manchester United, Jadon Sancho.Ces arrivées permettraient à la Juve de se séparer du Serbe Dusan Vlahovic, plus gros salaire de Serie A, dont le rendement (10 buts en championnat) et l’attitude ont déçu la saison dernière.

Trinidad and Tobago gives top honor to Indian PM Modi

Trinidad and Tobago on Friday bestowed its highest honor on visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking to strengthen New Delhi’s ties with the Caribbean and Latin America.Modi arrived Friday in the country, where more than a third of the population is of Indian descent.President Christine Carla Kangaloo gave him the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at a ceremony at President’s House in St Ann’s, just outside the capital Port of Spain — the first time a foreign leader was so honored. “This honor is a symbol of the deep and eternal friendship between our two countries,” Modi said, according to an official translation. Relations between India and Trinidad and Tobago date back to 1845, when indentured Indian laborers first arrived to work on sugar and cocoa plantations under British colonial rule, following the end of slavery. Between 1845 and 1917, more than 140,000 laborers settled in the Caribbean nation.The Indian community is now the country’s largest ethnic group, at 35.4 percent of the population of 1.4 million. Black Trinidadians are the second largest group at 34.2 percent.”It is a matter of great pride that the Indian community here continues to preserve our shared traditions, culture and customs with such care and devotion,” Modi said. He called Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar “the biggest brand ambassadors of this community.””Our relationship carries the excitement of cricket and the flavor of Trinidad pepper,” Modi said, calling Trinidad and Tobago a vital partner for New Delhi.”India and Trinidad & Tobago rose from the shadows of colonial rule to write our destiny of progress. Our nations stand tall as proud democracies and pillars of strength in the modern world,” Modi wrote on X.”It’s high time we all work together to give the Global South its rightful seat at the high table.”During his time in Port of Spain, Modi addressed the Trinidadian parliament and signed memorandums of understanding with Persad-Bissessar.Devant Maharaj, a former government minister and leader of the nation’s largest Hindu organization, called Modi a “hero” and hailed the visit.But Trinidad’s largest Muslim organization questioned the decision to honor Modi, citing his human rights record.He will next visit Argentina and Brazil, where a BRICS summit will take place on Sunday and Monday. 

France says ‘major issues’ remain despite brandy price accord with China

France on Friday praised China’s steps to settle a trade dispute over European brandy imports but warned that “major issues” remained unresolved.The signs of a thaw in the row over the alcohol came as China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris.In recent months China and the European Union have butted heads over Beijing’s generous subsidies for its domestic industries.Beijing launched an investigation last year into EU brandy, months after the bloc undertook a probe into Chinese electric vehicle (EV) subsidies.In the latest salvo, China will from Saturday require European brandy exporters to raise prices or risk anti-dumping taxes of up to 34.9 percent.Beijing said 34 European brandy makers, including several French cognac producers, had signed an accord to avoid tariffs as long as they stick to an agreed minimum price.France’s cognac makers’ association BNIC, which includes key producers Hennessy, Remy Cointreau and Martell, confirmed that some companies had agreed to price increases in China to avoid anti-dumping taxes.- ‘Positive step’ – Macron and Barrot praised China’s steps to resolve the dispute but stressed they would discuss the outstanding differences with Wang.”This is a positive step towards resolving this dispute, which was threatening our exports,” Macron said on X.”I will continue to raise these issues with the Chinese authorities this afternoon.”In a statement to AFP, Barrot said: “Several major issues remain unresolved, in particular the exclusion of certain players from the scope of the exemptions.” “We remain fully committed to reaching a definitive solution based on the conditions that existed prior to the investigation,” he said.Wang has held fraught meetings in several European countries this week.After meeting Macron and Barrot, Wang told a press conference: “The two sides had in-depth, active and sincere exchanges on Sino-French and European relations.” No mention was made of the brandy dispute.Almost all EU brandy is cognac produced in France, whose exports to China are worth 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) per year.French liquor giant Jas Hennessy said it would face levies of 34.9 percent if it did not stick to the deal. Remy Martin will be hit with 34.3 percent and Martell 27.7 percent.”The decision to accept the price commitment once again demonstrates China’s sincerity in resolving trade frictions through dialogue and consultation,” a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement.However, the European Commission kept up criticism of China’s new tariffs.”We believe that China’s measures are unfair. We believe they are unjustified,” said commission trade spokesman Olof Gill.”We believe they are inconsistent with the applicable international rules and are thus unfounded.”- Upcoming summit -China has sought to improve relations with the European Union as a counterweight to the United States.But frictions remain, including a yawning trade deficit of $357.1 billion between China and the EU, as well as Beijing maintaining close ties with Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine.The trade row blew up last year when the EU moved to impose hefty tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, arguing that Beijing’s subsidies unfairly undercut European competitors.Beijing rejected the accusation and announced what were seen as retaliatory probes into imported European pork, brandy and dairy products.The EU imposed extra import taxes of up to 35 percent on Chinese electric vehicles in October.Beijing lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organisation, which in April said it would set up an expert panel to investigate.China and the EU are to hold a summit this month to mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. But Bloomberg News reported, citing unnamed sources, that Beijing would cancel the second day of the summit, in a sign of the tensions.

Ravenous return: Fast-chewing Chestnut wins July 4th hot dog contest

Competitive eater Joey Chestnut recaptured his title at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on Friday in Brooklyn, downing 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in the July 4th holiday classic.The 41-year-old American missed last year’s event after signing a deal with Impossible Foods, whose plant-based products include hot dogs, but he was allowed to enter this year and made his Coney Island comeback a triumphant one.Chestnut won by 24 hot dogs over last year’s winner, Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago, but the maestro of mastication could not break his own record of 76 hot dogs that he consumed in 2021.It marked the 17th time Chestnut claimed the “Mustard Belt” symbolic of supremacy in the gastronomic showdown and his ninth triumph in 10 years.”Oh my gosh, I was nervous,” Chestnut told event telecaster ESPN after his victory. “First couple of hot dogs, I was fumbling a little bit, but I found a pretty good rhythm.”Chestnut said that despite his blowout triumph, he was hoping to make a better show of challenging his record consumption total.”My goal was 70 to 77,” he said. “I really wanted a little bit more. There’s next year and I’m just happy I’m here.”On the women’s side, American Miki Sudo won by eating 33 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, her 11th victory in the past 12 years, with American Michelle Lesco second on 22.75 dogs and buns.Sudo, who set the women’s record of 51 last year, did not compete in 2021 while pregnant, with Lesco winning that year.

Le Hamas étudie une offre de trêve, 52 morts à Gaza selon la Défense civile

Le Hamas a annoncé vendredi mener des discussions avec d’autres mouvements palestiniens sur une proposition de trêve avec Israël dans la bande de Gaza, où la Défense civile a fait état de 52 morts dans l’offensive israélienne.L’annonce du Hamas intervient avant un déplacement lundi à Washington du Premier ministre israélien Benjamin Netanyahu pour rencontrer le président Donald Trump, lequel fait pression pour un cessez-le-feu à Gaza, dévastée par près de 21 mois de guerre.”Nous menons des consultations avec les chefs des factions palestiniennes au sujet de la proposition envoyée par les médiateurs”, a dit dans un communiqué le mouvement islamiste Hamas, dont l’attaque sans précédent le 7 octobre 2023 contre Israël a déclenché la guerre. Selon une source palestinienne, la proposition “comprend une trêve de 60 jours” pendant laquelle le Hamas relâcherait la moitié des otages israéliens encore en vie en échange de la libération de prisonniers palestiniens détenus par Israël.Dans le même temps, l’armée israélienne a poursuivi son offensive dans la bande de Gaza assiégée et affamée, la Défense civile faisant état de 52 Palestiniens tués dans les raids aériens, bombardements et tirs, dont 11 près de sites d’aide humanitaire.A l’hôpital Nasser de Khan Younès (sud), où ont été transportés des corps de Palestiniens enveloppés dans des linceuls en plastique, des hommes récitent la prière des morts.A côté, des femmes en pleurs entourent le corps d’un proche.”Mon fils est allé chercher de la farine! Ils nous disent ‘venez chercher les aides’, nous y allons et ils nous tirent dessus”, se lamente Nidaa al-Farra, qui a perdu son fils de 19 ans près d’un site de distribution d’aide.- “Jusqu’à la racine” -La distribution de l’aide est gérée depuis fin mai par la Fondation humanitaire de Gaza (GHF), une entreprise au financement opaque soutenue par Israël et les Etats-Unis.L’ONU a affirmé que plus de 500 personnes avaient été tuées depuis fin mai près des sites de la GHF. La fondation nie tout incident “à proximité” de ses sites.Interrogé sur les bombardements rapportés par la Défense civile, l’armée israélienne a déclaré “mener des opérations pour démanteler les capacités militaires du Hamas”. Elle a fait état de “la mort au combat” d’un soldat à Gaza.L’ONG Médecins sans frontières a affirmé de son côté qu’un de ses anciens collaborateurs, Abdallah Hammad, figurait parmi les Palestiniens tués jeudi alors qu’ils attendaient des camions d’aide près de Khan Younès. “Nous sommes révoltés et attristés par sa mort”, a dénoncé MSF.Compte tenu des restrictions imposées par Israël aux médias et des difficultés d’accès sur le terrain, l’AFP n’est pas en mesure de vérifier de manière indépendante les affirmations de la Défense civile à Gaza.Cette semaine, M. Netanyahu a redit vouloir éliminer “jusqu’à la racine” le Hamas, l’un des buts affichés de la guerre, avec le retour des otages et le contrôle de Gaza.Il a aussi promis de ramener “tous” les otages, “sans exception”.Sur les 251 personnes enlevées durant l’attaque du 7-Octobre, 49 sont toujours retenues à Gaza, dont 27 ont été déclarées mortes par l’armée israélienne.- “Un grand et bel accord” -A Tel-Aviv, les familles des otages ont manifesté devant une annexe de l’ambassade des Etats-Unis pour réclamer un “grand et bel accord pour les otages” et un cessez-le-feu, en allusion à la “grande et belle” loi budgétaire de Donald Trump.M. Trump a assuré mardi que Israël avait accepté de finaliser les termes d’un cessez-le-feu et exhorté le Hamas à l’accepter, évoquant un accord proche.Le Hamas, qui a pris le pouvoir à Gaza en 2007, réclame publiquement un cessez-le-feu “permanent” et un retrait israélien de Gaza.Une première trêve d’une semaine en novembre 2023 puis une seconde de deux mois début 2025 à Gaza, négociées via le Qatar, les Etats-Unis et l’Egypte, ont permis le retour de nombreux otages israéliens et la libération de prisonniers palestiniens.Faute d’accord sur la suite du cessez-le-feu, Israël a repris le 18 mars son offensive contre Gaza, où les quelque deux millions de Palestiniens vivent dans conditions terribles selon l’ONU et des ONG.L’attaque du 7-Octobre a fait 1.219 morts côté israélien, en majorité des civils, selon un décompte de l’AFP établi à partir de données officielles.Au moins 57.268 Palestiniens, majoritairement des civils, ont été tués à Gaza dans l’offensive de représailles israélienne, selon des données du ministère de la Santé du Hamas, jugées fiables par l’ONU.